Beetle trap



Dec..30, v1930. w. A. RUDDELL BEETLE TRAP Filed April 2. 41929 2 Sheets-Sheet l (Tluucnfo juafdefl.

Dec. 30, 1.930. wxA. RUDDELL BEETLE TRAP Filed April 2. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 s L.lillnlllllllllIllllllllllll.l. ,'.n`\ Ill:

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Patented Dec. 30, 1930 UNITED STATES WILLIAM A. BUDDELL, OF CAPE MAY POINT, JESEY, ASSIGNOR TO `EIGHT IDEA :Ar-mmm 'raar co.,

PATENT oFrlcE OF NORFOLK, 'VIRGINIA BETLE TRAP Application led April 2,

This invention relates to insect traps and more particularly to atrap by means of which ilyin insects and particularly beetles, such as apanese beetles, may be caught and destroyed.

One object of the invention is to provide a beetle trap into which beetles may readily pass but be prevented from leaving and to so form the entrance ofthe trap that beetles passing inwardly will be prevented from clogging the trap.

Another object of the invention is to so associate the entrance or conduit through which the beetles pass into the confining chamber or beetle container with the bait receptacle that odors from bait within the receptacle will attract the beetles to the trap and cause them to pass inwardly through the conduit into the confining chamber where they die and further to permit odors from dead beetles to escape from the confining chamber or beetle container without the odors of the dead beetles passing upwardly through the bait receptacle or inlet of the trap and tending to drive beetles away from the trap.

Another object of the invention is to provide a trap which may be painted or otherwise colored so that beetles will be attracted to the trap by its color as well as by the odors arising from the bait similar to the manner in which moths and other insects are attracted by a flame.

Another object of the invention is to so form the trap thatQwhen it/'is necessary to dispose of beetles which have accumulated in the confining chamber or beetle container the bait holder or receptacle mounted above the beetle container may be removed and the out disturbing bait in the bait receptacle.

Another object ofthe invention is to allow the baille which divides the upper end of the passageway or conduit alld serves to direct beetlesvinto the same to be removed from the conduit and stored in the beetle container and theppen-upper end o the conduit closed by a temporary lid removably applied to the upper end of the bait receptacle thereby al- 5 lowing a number of the traps to be stacked one "beetle passage or conduit carried with it with` '1929. Serial No. 351,934.

upon another when stored away or not in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means for securing the bait receptacle in place upon the beetle container and to further provide a trap which may be either suspended from an overhead support, such as the limb of a tree or rest upon a suitable support.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view'of the improved trap,

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the trap,

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showin the baiile placed in the beetle container and the upper end of the conduit closed by a removable ld, and

Fig. 4 is a top plan vview of the beetle container.

This improved beetle trap includes a coniining chamber or beetle container 1 and a bait holder or receptacle 2 adapted to be set in place upon the container 1 and firmly. but releasably secured thereon. The container 1 is preferably formed of metal and has its bottom provided with perforations 3 and the upper and lower portions of its walls perforated, as shown at 4 and 5, constituting Ventilating openings through which the odors of dead beetles in the container may escape. It vshould alsovbe noted that the bottom is elevated, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, thereby providing a depending annular flange or rim 6 which will prevent the bottom of the container from contacting with a table or other support upon which the container may be placed and eliminate danger of the bottom of the container being damaged by water which might accumulate beneath it if it rested .flat upon a suppprt. The upper ends of the walls of the container are crimped inwardly to forml a short neck 7 at its open upper end and into this neck is fitted a head 8 which is frictionally held in place similar to the manf ner in which hand tops v are applied. An opening 9 isv formed centrally in the head 8 and in order to allow the openin 9 to be closed when necessary, 'there has proclosure may be swung into position to close vided a closure disk 10 which is pivotally se-l cured against the outer face of the head by a rivet or equivalent fastener 11 so that the from an open position the opening, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 4. Ears 12 project from opposite vsides of the container and engaged by a handle 13 which is normally swung downwardly, as shown in Fig. 1, but maybe swung to' a raised position in which it extends above the container when the con-- tainer is to be carried to aV lace where beetles confined thereinV may be dgsposed of.

The bait holder or receptacle 2'is also preferably formed of metal and is provided with i an annular flange 14 which extends downwardly about its bottom 15'and adapted to lit snugly about the neck 7 o'f the container 1.

An open1ng`16 is provided centrally in the bottom of the bait ing is encircled b an upstanding bordering ange 17 'which ares u wardly, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

figures, it will be seen that when the bait receptacle is applied to the beetle container the opening 16 will be disposed directly above the opening A9'.' Ears 18 which are similar to the ears 12 are provided at opposite sides of the bait receptacle and carry a handle 19 similar to the -handle 13 which is adapted to be swung Yunwardly above the bait receptacle so that the trap may be Suspended from a tree limb or other overhead support.' If so desired, a spring 20,;similar to those used for bird cages, may be applied tothe-handle 19 and thereby lallow the trap to be suspended from an overhead support and have swaying motion when 1n use. It is n 'to have the bait recep- "tacle and'beetle container lirmly held inengagexnent witheach other when the trap is 1n use, and vI have, therefore, provided se- Vwardly Afrom tY Y ears 12 and 1-8. It will thus be seen that theV fasteners when applied will curing means at opposite sides of the tra each of which consists of a spring 21 dispose vertically and having its ends engaged with rods 22 which reject upwardly and downe spring and at their ends terminate in hooks 23 to be engaged in the exertl a pulllng action and very firmly hold the bait receptacle and beetle container together but allow them to be released and separated when necessary. i I In order to provide a passage for' beetles so that they tainer or container l, there has ,been pro- .vided a conduit/24 which tapers downwardly and is of such dimensions that when it is set inV lace within the bait receptacle and supported, by an outstanding marginal flange 25 reL tin upon the reducedl neck or mouth 26 of the ait receptacle the upper portion of the conduit will fit snugly into the mouth of the bait receptacle and completely fill the same .and the lower portion of the conduit will receptacle and this 'open-l y referring to these `upwardly and will 'drop may vPass into the beetle con-f pass through the alined openings'l and 9 and completely fill the same and project into the upper portion of the beetle container l. Openings 27'are formed adjacent the upper end of the bait receptacle so that fumes from bait placed in the receptacle may'escape and attract beetles and other openings 28 are formed in the walls of the conduit intermediate its upper and lower ends yso that *part of the fumes may enter the conduit and tol some extent suocate the beetles as they pass inwardly through the conduit. In order in diverging relation to each other. The free ends of the arms are formed with" edge por! tions 32 which converge and conform to the.

incline of the side walls of the conduit and, therefore, when the balile is set in place, as shown in- Figs. l and 2, it will be prevented from moving inwardly beyond the fosition shown in these figures, and it will e supported with its upper portion projecting above the open upper end of the conduit.

Therefore, beetles which are attracted tothe trapby the smell of thebait and the colors of the bait receptacle and beetle container will strike the portions of the baille which pro'ect into the `con uit through which they wil pass and into the beetle co ainer. In view of the fact that the baille di 'des the open u per endor mouth of the conduitinto a num I r of passageways, the conduit will be prevented from becoming choked. 'Ihe force of the blow received when the beetles strike thev ballles will cause them to be dazed and they will drop downwardly through the conduit into the beetle container. Beetles which are only partially dazed may remain in the conduit for a short length of time but the fumes from the bait which enter the conduit through the openings 28 will vinto the bait receptacle.

When the beetle trap lis in use, it is assembled as shown in 1 and 2 with bait of a suitable kind in the ait receptacle. The

trap may be set in place upon 'a support or suspended from an overhead support, such as atree limb. The fumes from.the bait and the colors of the bait holder and beetle container will attract the beetles and ,cause them to ily towardsv'the trap. When the beetles reach the trap, they strike the projectinggupper portion ofthe baille and are the bait receptacle.

deflected downwardly so ',that they pass through the conduit and into the beetle container. In view of the fact that there is no communication between the bait holder and the beetle container and the beetle container is provided with Ventilating openings in its sides odors from dead beetles in the container will be prevented from passing upwardly through the bait receptacle and causing the beetles to be driven away. After the trapihas been in use a certain length of time,

the beetle container becomes filled to such an extent that it is necessary to dispose ot' the beetles. When this is necessary, the hooks extending downwardly from the springs 21 are released from the ears 12 of the beetle vcontainer thereby releasing the beetle container and allowing it to be separated from As soon vas the beetle container is detached from the bait receptacle the closure disk'lO is swung to a closed positionin order to prevent-.beetles from escaping through the opening 9. Another beetle container may beiset in place in place of the one removed and secured or the beetles can be dumped from the beet-le container into a suitable receptacle or other place of disposal and the same container replaced. When the beetle container is detached, the conduit does not need to lbe removed and, therefore, bait in the receptacle will not be disturbed 'and also will not 'be liable to be spilled. By

having the head 8 of the container frictionally held in lace 'it can be removed and therebyvallow eetles to be easily poured out of the container. When the trap is not in use, the baiiie 30 is removed .from the conduit and set into-the beetle container, as shown in Fig. 3, and a cover or lid 33 applied in covering relation to the upper end of the conduit with its flange 34 fitting snugly about the reduced mouth of the bait receptacle. This prevents dirt from accumulating in the conduit and passing-downwardly into the beetle container and also allows a number of traps to be stacked one upon another.

Having thus described the invention, I claim: j j l 1. An insect trap comprising an insect container, a removable head for the upper end of said container formed with 'an opening, a

baitreceptacle seated upon said container and r l removable therefrom, means to releasably secure said receptacle in place upon said container, means to close the openings in the:

head of the upper end of said container when the receptacle is removed, a conduit extending vertically through said receptacle and -having its lower end portion projecting through the bottom of the receptacle to extend into said container through the opening in the head thereof when tnevreceptacle is in place upon the container, and lneans projectng above the upper end of said conduit for directing insects into the conduit.

2. An insect trap comprising an insect container, a removable head for the yupper end of said container formed with an opening, a bait receptacle seated upon said container and removable therefrom, a conduit extending vertically 'through said receptacle and having its lower end projecting through the bottom of the receptacle to extend into said container through the openin in the head thereof when the receptacle is 1n place upon the container, a closure for the opening in said head ycarried thereby andadapted to be moved into position to close the opening when the receptacle is removed from sai container, and means carried bythe upper portion of said conduit fory directing insects into the conduit.

3. An insect trap comprising a container, a bait receptacle above said container and open at its upper end, a conduit'extending vertically in said bait receptacle and tapered towards its lower end, the upper end of said conduit fitting snugly within the upper end of said baitreceptacle and the lower end portion of the conduit passing through the bottom of the bait receptacle and projecting into said container, and means for directing insects into said conduit removably seated inthe upper portion thereot` and tapered downwardly to fit snugly when in place and consisting of plates disposed transversely of each other and projecting upwardly from the conduit for contact by insects iiying toward the trap from all directions.

' 4. An insect trap comprising an insect container open at its upper end, a removable head for/the upper end'of said container formed" with an opening, a bait receptacle resting upon said container and open at its upper end, the bottom of said receptacle having an openingformedtherein above the openin-g in the head of said container, a conduit disposed vertically in said receptacle with its upper end snugly fitting the open upper end of the receptacle and its lower portion extending through the openin s in the bottom of the receptacle and head o said container and projectinginto the container, and a bathe in theupper' portion of said conduit projecting upwardly above the conduit to direct insects into the conduit.

tainer open at its upper end, a removable 5. An insect trap comprising an insect conhead for the upper end of said container formed with anopening, a bait receptacle resting upon said container and open at its upper end, the bottom of said receptacle having an opening formed therein above the opening in the head of said container, a downwardly tapered conduit disposed vvertically in said receptacle with its upper end i snugly fitting the open upper end of the re'- ceptaclel and its lower portion extending through the openings in the bottom ofthe receptacle and head of'said container and pro- 'jecting into the container, and a baliie for directing insects into said conduit tting into in the head of said container, a downwardly tapered conduit disposed vertically in said vreceptacle with itsn upper end snugly fitting the open upper end of the receptacle and its lower portion extending throu h the openings in the bottom of the receptac e and head of said container and projectinginto the container, a baliie dividing the upper por e tion of said conduit into a plurality of passages and projecting upwardly above the conduit to direct insects into the conduit, means to releasably secure said receptacle in place upon said container, said balile being removable fromsaid conduit and adapted tol v be placed within said'container when stored,

end of the conduit when the therefrom. 4

7. An insecty trap comprising an insect container open at its upper end, a removable head for the upper end of said container baille is removed formed with an opening, a bait receptacle' resting u on said container and open atits upper en the bottom of said receptacle havlng an opening formed therein above the opening in the head of said container, a downwardly tapered conduit vdisposed vertically in said receptacle with its upper end snugly fitting the open upperend of the receptacle and its lower lportion extending through the openings in the bottom of 'the receptacle and head of said container and projecting into the container,

" ing from the walls of said receptacle and container,

cally an engaged with said ears, and a baiiie for directing insects into said conduit.

8. An insect trap comprising an insect ,container openlat its upper end, a removableA head for the upper end of said container formed with an opening, a bait receptacle resting u n said container and open at its ears projectmeans to, retain the receptacle seated uion said contalner extending vertl- 1,7sv.421 i jecting into the container, ears projectingA from the walls of said receptacle and container,l handles en aged with said ears, and means to releasab y secure said receptacle upon said container including sprin 'extendin vertically, and rods engage with the en s of said springs and formed with hooks engaged with said ears.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature.

WILLIAM A. RUDDELL. [1.. 5.]

vand a removable closure to cover the upper upper en the bottomf said receptacle having an opening formed therein 'above the openlng in the head of said container, a

downwardly tapered conduit disposed ver? tically insaid receptacle with its upper end snugly fitting the open upper end of the receptacle and its lower portion extending through the openings in the bottom of the receptacle and' head of said container and pro- 

